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How to Destroy a Drive Belt in Three Easy Steps

Before we let ANYONE leave our lot with a new UTV, we like to go over a few basics. Stuff like service schedules, break in period, and the like. But one BIG thing we try to make everyone aware of, is how to make their drive belt last as long as possible. Most people don't have a problem with this, but about 3 out of 10 still ruin their belt in the first few days.

When this happens, we take the machine in the shop and look it over to verify the problem. We go over everything with the customer again and it usually doesn't happen twice. But sometimes it does...

Logic would suggest that there are some who are TRYING to cause damage. Without judgement, here's our three biggest tips for how to ruin your drive belt.

Disclaimer: We don’t just talk the talk. We’ve ruined our own drive belt this way plenty of times. 😜

Drive everywhere in High gear. Especially if you’re driving slower than 35 mph.

This first step is imperative. If you want to go through drive belts, you need to drive everywhere in HIGH gear. Some people might try to tell you that you should only be in HIGH gear if you’re driving faster than 35 mph. Ignore them. They don’t have the time, energy, or money to spend on repairs like you do.

To destroy your drive belt, you must commit to driving in HIGH gear at all times. Especially when you’re towing or climbing a hill.

Drive through deep water. You want it high enough to submerge your clutch. The dirtier the water, the better.

It’s not easy to ruin a drive belt. Driving in HIGH gear is going to help, but to speed up the damage, you want to get your belt wet. Wet and dirty. Find the deepest water you can and drive through it as much as possible. The water will help your belt to slip. The more it slips, the more likely it is to tear.

For an extra challenge, make sure the water is full of dirt or sand. The debris will help gunk up your clutch. This causes slippage. It will also increase the likelihood of damage to your primary and secondary clutch.

If you see or smell smoke, just keep going.

If you want to ruin your drive belt, you’re going to have to commit. At this point, you’ve at least glazed your drive belt. It will start to slip and your UTV will begin to feel “jerky.” If you want to spend time and money on repairs, you need to start tuning out these “warning signs.”

askhole

A person who repeatedly asks for advice from multiple individuals, only to ignore aforementioned advice completely. The askhole will choose the least logical option (usually their own), skipping merrily down the path into unbridled oblivion, blissfully and willingly oblivious throughout the entire ordeal.

The best way to cause damage to your drive belt is to ignore any “common sense” indications that you should stop. If you smell burning rubber, your UTV begins to “jerk,” or see smoke of any kind, keep on the throttle.

Congratulations! You have now destroyed your drive belt in the most efficient way possible!

Most UTV owners can go hundreds of hours on the same drive belt. But you’ve committed the time and energy (and now money!) to causing the most damage in the least amount of time.